Tobacco smoking equipment

ABSTRACT

Tobacco smoking equipment comprising a disposable charge housing formed by compressing a folded section of porous and absorbent paper within a folded section of small mesh metal screen which is subsequently shaped into a sleeve-like unit wherein the opposite ends of the assembly are in overlapping relationship. The thusly formed charge housing is fully inserted in the ventilated bowl section of a smoking holder having a stem section affixed thereto in a pipe like configuration. Additionally, a small hole is provided in the forward portion of the stem section which penetrates into the longitudinal smoke channel within said stem section, said hole being covered by a tapered sleeve like member having a triangular shaped opening in the sidewall thereof. The tapered sleeve member is slidably installed on the aforesaid stem section so as to provide an adjustable valve member for blending air with the tobacco smoke in controllable amounts.

[ TOBACCO SMOKING EQUIPMENT [76] Inventor: Jon W. Beam, 510 E. CherrySt,

Cushing, Okla. 74023 [22] Filed: Feb. 2, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 328,921

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1883 Burbank 131/195 X8/1897 [111 1451 Aug. 18,1974

9,521 1885 Great Britain 131/3 5 7] ABSTRACT Tobacco smoking equipmentcomprising a disposable charge housing formed by compressing a foldedsection of porous and absorbent paper within a folded section of smallmesh metal screen which is subsequently shaped into a sleeve-like unitwherein the opposite ends of the assembly are in overlappingrelationship. The thusly formed charge housing is fully inserted in theventilated bowl section of a smoking holder having a stem sectionaffixed thereto in a pipe like configuration. Additionally, a small holeis provided in the forward portion of the stem section which penetratesinto the longitudinal smoke channel within said stern section, said holebeing covered by a tapered sleeve like member having a triangular shapedopening in the sidewall thereof. The tapered sleeve member is slidablyinstalled on the aforesaid stem section so as to provide an adjustablevalve member for blending air with the tobacco smoke in controllableamounts.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 5,612 1894Great Britain 131/198 A 1,431,791 2/1966 France 131/196 TOBACCO SMOKINGEQUIPMENT" FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a new andnovel means of smoking tobacco.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thus far the smoking of tobacco has beenconfined. primarily to three basic adaptations, pipe,- cigarandcigarette. It is well known that all of these methods of tobacco usagehave objectionable features. In the case of tobacco smoking pipes, thecombustion of the tobacco charge is sometimes poor. This characteristicmay result in wasted tobacco and the need for frequent relighting.Additionally, the smoke and pipe bowl may become unpleasantly hot and afoul tasting fluid may accumulate in the stem section. Efforts have beenmade to improve the combustion of tobacco in smoking pipes through theuse of small airvent' openings in the pipe bowl section, however, suchprocedure'has met with little success due to the fact thatthe openings.

must obviously be very small if the pipe is to function properly and sothey are consequently soon plugged with tobacco tar and renderedineffective. Another-approach to the problem has been to 'encase thetobacco charge in an impermeable paper wrapper'such asci'ga rette paperand to seat such a charge in a spacedrelationship in a pipe having aperforated bowl side wall. This procedure is covered in my; U.S-. Pat.No. 3,765,428, issued Oct. 16, l973,'-and entitled Smok ing Pipe andPreformed Charger Combination. Although this latter arrangement assuresimproved combustion of the tobacco charge, it has th'e disadvantage thatthe paper wrapper is consumed with'each pipe. load and must be replaced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is a principal object' of theinvention to providea new and novel means for smoking tobacco or othersuch like materials, wherein the equipment is similar in appearance to atobacco smoking pipe, but wherein the principles of combustion andoperation are quite different.

It is a further object of the invention to'provide a pipe-like means forsmoking tobacco wherein tobacco waste is reduced due to more completecombustion.

It is still a further object of the. invention: to provide a pipe-likemeans for smoking tobacco wherein the air" supply to the burning tobaccocharge is not'primarily dependent on the smokerdrawing on the stemsection, thus eliminating the need for frequent relighting.

It is still a further'object of the-invention to provide a pipe-likemeans for smoking tobacco wherein the accumulation of foul tastingfluids in the stem: section is substantially reduced.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a pipe-likemeans'for smoking tobacco wherein evapo'-- rative cooling of the chargehousing and smoke stream automatically results.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a means forsmoking tobacco wherein the tobacco charge is encompassed by acombustible paper section which is permeable and absorbent in such amanner that it does not burn and is reusable.

Although the aerodynamics of the smoke streamthrough the charge housingsection of the subject invention are not completely clear it is believedthat a high percentage of the smoke stream finds the path of leastresistance to be near the side wall of the charge housing due to thewire screen irregularities, that par'- tial condensation of thevaporized liquid products of combustion occurs in the charge housingside wall area and that such products are absorbed by the permeable andabsorbent paper section, and that evaporative cooling occurs due to heatand the air filtration therethrough.

It should be pointed out that the heat dissipating characteristics of awire screendouble side wall plays an important part in the hereinbeforerecited condensation action and that such heat dissipation along withthe resulting absorbed moisture are the factors which prevent thepermeable and absorbent paper section from burning.

It will be found that for the best results however that the wire screenand permeable and absorbent paper charge housing should be periodicallyreplaced since tobacco tar buildup on these parts will gradually reducethe effectiveness of the assembly.

Further and additional objects and advantages will subsequently becomeapparent from the description, accompanying drawings and appendedclaims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a more complete understanding of theinvention reference is now made to the drawings forming a part hereofand in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout and in which:

FIG. 1 is exploded perspective view of the folded metal screen sectionand the folded porous and absorbent paper section which form thedisposable charge housing.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view which illustrates the assembly of FIG. 1after being compressed into a flexible strip.

FIG. 3'is a perspective illustration which shows how the assembly ofFIG. 2 is initially rolled in forming the disposable charge housing.

FIG. is a perspective illustration which shows the assembly of FIG. 2formed into the completed charge housing with the ends thereofconnected.

FIG. 5 is a perspective illustration of the smoking holder in partialsection with the valve sleeve retracted from the valve hole.

FIG. 6 is a perspective illustration of the smoking holder of FIG. 5with the charge housing of FIG. 4 fully seated inthe bowl cavity thereofand with the valve member in place.

FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration of the slidable valve. member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingsand more particularly to FIG. 1 a sectionof small mesh metal screen 10is utilized which is folded exactly in the center lengthwise.Conventional household type aluminum screen having approximately aone-sixteenth inch mesh size and ten thousandths of one inch wirediameter will give good results, or any other small mesh flexible metalwire screen other than that which may be coated with some undesirablesubstance. The width of the folded screen section should approximatelyequal the depth of the bowl cavity of the smoking holder which willsubsequently be discussed and the length of the folded metal screensection should approximately equal the internal circumference of thecharge housing seats within the bowl cavity plus about three-eighths ofone inch. A folded section of porous and absorbent paper 11 is alsoprovided and inserted within the folded metal screen section 10 whereinthe dimensions are exactly the same as those of the metal screen section10 with the exception that it is one quarter of one inch longer in widthand with this excess portion which is indicated by the numeral 12 beingadditionally folded backward and up as illustrated. A wide variety ofporous and absorbent paper which is adaptable for this use is readilyavailable at extremely low cost in the form of paper towels. Any ofthese which have porosity and absorption characteristics which areapproximately similar to the Scott Paper Co. product which is covered byU.S. Pat. No. 2,834,809 or the Proctor and Gamble Co. product which iscovered by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,301,746; 3,4l4,459 and D-2l2,049 will givegood results. However, it is not intended that the invention be confinedto these paper products or to the two paper layer construction sinceother paper products are adaptable and especially so when the number ofpaper layers are increased or decreased.

Referring again to the drawing and more particularly to FIG. 2, it canbe seen that after the folded porous and absorbent paper section 11 isfully inserted into folded metal screen section 10 and the assembly iscompressed so that a flexible strip combination results wherein thecomponent parts are in frictional attachment. It should also be notedthat FIG. 2 illustrates the reverse side of the assembly of FIG. 1.

Referring again to the drawings and more particular to FIG. 3, theassembly of FIG. 2 is wrapped around a cylindrical member (not shown)and caused to assume a sleeve like shape wherein the ends 13 and 14 ofthe assembly are in overlapping but unattached relationship. Due to theresiliency of the metal screen section or its tendency to unroll thediameter of the sleeve like assembly which has been and will hereinafterbe referred to as the disposable charge housing will be approximatelytwice the diameter of the aforesaid cylin drical member which is used informing it. It should also be noted that in forming the disposablecharge housing that excess paper strip 12 should always be folded uparound the external side of the assembly so as to provide a gasket likeelement when the disposable charge housing is subsequently seated in thebowl cavity of the smoking holder. It should also be obvious that asimilar gasket-like element can be provided between the verticaloverlapping edges 13 and 14 of the assembly if an excess paper stripsimilar to paper strip 12 is allowed to extend beyond the folded metalscreen edges 13 and wherein it is folded backwards so as to residebetween vertical overlapping edges 13 and 14 of the cylindrical formedcharge housing. It should be further explained that folded edge 13 ofmetal screen section 10 which results in being the external overlap ofthe disposable charge housing assembly should preferably be woven orotherwise finished to prevent unraveling. This can be accomplished bythe use of a woven edge or in those cases where this is not practicalthe wire strands along this edge 13 should be bonded together with epoxyglue or other suitable bonding agent in order to prevent wire screenedge 13 from unraveling. On the other hand, it is not necessary ordesirable that the small wires forming the wire screen edge 13 of theassembly be in attachment since the rolling procedure which is used informing the assembly is facilitated if they are not, furthermore theshort projections of the horizontal strands which result when the metalwire screen is cut serve a useful purpose in the disposable chargehousing assembly by engaging in the wire screen mesh of the interiorside wall of the assembly at the point of contact and interlockingthereby assuring that vertical wire screen internal edge 14 does notsubsequently collapse. Furthermore, it should be explained that theadvantage of using a charge housing assembly as illustrated in FIG. 3,wherein the opposite overlapping edges 13 and 14 are not in attachmentresides in the fact that such an assembly is adaptable for use withoutmodification in smoking holders wherein the bowl seats 16A are ofdifferent diameters. However, the overlapping charge housing edges 13and 14 may be permanently attached in any well known manner such as bythe use of a suitable adhesive or mechanical means such as wire staplesor a combination of both (not shown).

Referring again to the drawing and more particularly to FIG. 4, asmoking holder is illustrated which is suitable for use in conjunctionwith the previously described disposable charge housing. As can be seenthe smoking holder is similar to a conventional tobacco smoking pipehaving a bowl 15, an inner stem section 20 attached to the lower portionthereof and an outer stern section 22 removably attached thereto saidstem sections 20 and 22 having a longitudinal smoke channel 21therethrough. Four large equispaced holes identified by the numeral 15Ahave been provided in the side wall of the bowl section. A pair ofsubstantially identical cylindrical apertures 16 and 16A are provided inthe upper end and lower end, respectively, of the bowl and will behereinafter referred to as seating bands. Additionally it can be seenthat the central portion of the bowl cavity has been enlarged internallyso as to allow free circulation of air around the disposable chargehousing when it is centrally seated and frictionally retained within thebowl cavity. Also it is to be noted that a small hole 17 has beenvertically drilled in the forward portion of the stem section 20 whichpenetrates into the smoke channel 21 therein, and that a taperedsleeve-like valve member 18 having a small triangular shaped opening 19cut in the side wall is slidably installed thereon. The size of hole 17is not critical. However, seven sixty fourths of one inch diameter is asuitable size. The taper of the side wall of the sleeve-like valvemember 18 should be the same as the taper of forward stem section 20 andthe size should be such that it will be frictionally engaged with theforward stem section 20 when it is positioned so that the triangularopening 19 is in central alignment with hole 17. Thus it can be seenthat a simple adjustable valve means is provided wherein air in areadily controlled amountcan be blended with the smoke stream so as toinsure a cooler and milder smoke taste.

Referring again to the drawing and more particularly to FIG. 6, thisfigure illustrates the same smoking holder as that shown in FIG. 5, butwith the disposable charge housing of FIG. 4 seated in the bowl cavitythereof and with valve member 18 pushed forward on stem section 20 so asto cover and seal hole 17 in essentially leak proof relationship. Itshould be noted that the cavity within the bowl section of the smokingholder is centrally enlarged so as to allow free circulation of airaround the disposable charge housing. The amount of this enlargementisnot critical. However, by using a larger bowl section wherein thisenlargement is increased will reduce the amount of heat which isabsorbed by the bowl section from burning tobacco within the disposablecharge housing. It should be further noted that although the smokingholder as illustrated has a round shaped bowl section with four largecircular holes through the side wall, it is not my intention to confinethe invention to either of these features. Since obviously smokingholders having vertical or tapered bowl side walls will function just aswell if the central portion of the bowl cavity is properly recessed; Insome cases it may be also desirable for the sake of appearance to coverholes A with a' strip of air permeable material such as small meshbronze screen (not shown), which is fitted into the centrally enlargedportion of the bowl cavity and in other cases it may even be desirablefor a similar reason to eliminate the bowl ventilating holes 15 and 15Aandsubstitute a bowl-section wherein that portion which projects abovethe lower seating and retainment band-16A is formed of some such likeair permeable material such as porous refractory material (not shown).Furthermore, it is obvious that in those cases wherein the bowl sectionis of molded construction that it will be advantageous to let seatingbands 16 and 16A be separate component parts which can be cemented orotherwise attached internally within the upper portion of the bowlcavity after the bowlsectionis formed. Referring now to bowl ventilatingholes 15A, the size, shape or number of such holes is of littlesignificance so long as the combined area of such holes is sufficientsoas to allowessentially unrestricted air circulation around the seateddisposable charge housing.

lt should also be explained that it is desirable that the diameter ofthe disposable charge housing be about one quarter of one inch in excessof that of the disposable charge housing seats 16 and 16A in the bowlcavity'of the smoking holder. The foregoing described oversizing is onlyapplicable however in those instances wherein the overlapping ends 13and 14 of the charge housing assembly are not in attachment asillustrated-in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 illustrates the sleeve-like valve member 18. This component partis readily formed by tapering a suitable section of thin wallnon-corrosive metal tubing of suitable size in a manner which is wellknown to those skilled in the art. In some cases it may be desirable touse any of several plastic materials in forming this part. The length ofthe valve member 18 should be about five-eighths of one inch and thelength of triangular opening 19 should be about one-fourth of one inchwith the base width being equal to the diameter of hole 17.

Although precise measurements and dimensions have been suggested inorder to insure successful reproduction of the invention, they are to beconsidered as illustrative only. Furthermore, since numerous changes andmodifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationas shown and described and accordingly all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope of the inventionas set forth and claimed.

6 Having fully and completely described the invention, what is nowclaimed as new is as follows:

1. Tobacco smoking equipment comprising in combination a smoking holderof pipe-like configuration having a bowl section with a cavity thereinand being open at the upper end thereof, an elongated stem sectionattached to the lower end of the bowl section and a longitudinal smokechannel passageway provided through the stem section and in opencommunication with the bowl cavity, air ventilation means providedthrough the side of the bowl section in open communication with the bowlcavity, an upper annular seating band secured around the inside surfaceof the bowl cavity at the upper end thereof, a second substantiallyidentical lower annular seating band secured around the inside surfaceof the bowl cavity at the bottom end thereof; a disposable chargehousing having an outside cross sectional shape and size substantiallyequal to the cross sectional shape and size of the inside surface of theseating bands, said charge housing being removably secured within thebowl cavity and in frictional engagement with the said seating bands,said charge housing comprising an outer screen wire sleeve, an innerspring wire sleeve disposed within the outer screen wire sleeve, and aporous and absorbent material sleeve sandwiched between the outer andinner screen wire sleeves whereby said charge housing may receive atobacco charge therein.

2. Tobacco smoking equipment as set forth in claim 1 wherein the porousand absorbent material sleeve comprises at least one layer of porous andabsorbent paper.

3. Tobacco smoking equipment as set forth in claim 1 wherein the outerscreen wire sleeve and the inner screen wire sleeve of the chargehousing are connected around the upper edge thereof and wherein anannular band of porous absorbent material is secured around the outerperiphery of the lower end of the charge housing to form a gaskettherearound, said gasket being removably seatable within the lowerseating band when the charge housing is secured within the bowl cavity.

4. Tobacco smoking equipment as set forth in claim 1 wherein the upperand lower seating bands are constructed as an integral part of thesmoking holder bowl.

5. Tobacco smoking equipment as set forth in claim 1 wherein air andsmoke blending means is provided in the smoking holder and comprisesmeans providing an air inlet aperture provided in the stem sectionadjacent to the bowl section, said aperture means being in opencommunication with the smoke channel passageway, variable valve meansmovably connected to the stem section and in communication with the airinlet aperture whereby said valve means may be variably opened or closedto allow the desired amount of air to be mixed with the smoke in thesmoke channel passageway.

6. Tobacco smoking equipment as set forth in claim 5 wherein the valvemeans comprises a sleeve member having a circular cross-section slidablysurrounding the stem section at the air inlet aperture therein, a secondaperture provided in said sleeve member, said second aperture and theair inlet aperture being traversely aligned whereby the sleeve membermay be moved thereby adjusting the position of the second aperture withrespect to the air inlet aperture for variably opening and closing theair inlet aperture.

- 7. Tobacco smoking equipment as set forth in claim 1 wherein thecharge housing comprising said pair of elongated wire mesh screen panelshaving a porous absorbent material panel sandwiched therebetween saidscreen panels with porous absorbent material panel has a sleeve shapefor receiving a tobacco charge therein.

8. Tobacco smoking equipment as set forth in claim 7 wherein theelongated wire mesh screen panels have panels are bonded together.

1. Tobacco smoking equipment comprising in combination a smoking holderof pipe-like configuration having a bowl section with a cavity thereinand being open at the upper end thereof, an elongated stem sectionattached to the lower end of the bowl section and a longitudinal smokechannel passageway provided through the stem section and in opencommunication with the bowl cavity, air ventilation means providedthrough the side of the bowl section in open communication with the bowlcavity, an upper annular seating band secured around the inside surfaceof the bowl cavity at the upper end thereof, a second substantiallyidentical lower annular seating band secured around the inside surfaceof the bowl cavity at the bottom end thereof; a disposable chargehousing having an outside cross sectional shape and size substantiallyequal to the cross sectional shape and size of the inside surface of theseating bands, said charge housing being removably secured within thebowl cavity and in frictional engagement with the said seating bands,said charge housing comprising an outer screen wire sleeve, an innerspring wire sleeve disposed within the outer screen wire sleeve, and aporous and absorbent material sleeve sandwiched between the outer andinner screen wire sleeves whereby said charge housing may receive atobacco charge therein.
 2. Tobacco smoking equipment as set forth inclaim 1 wherein the porous and absorbent material sleeve comprises atleast one layer of porous and absorbent paper.
 3. Tobacco smokingequipment as set forth in claim 1 wherein the outer screen wire sleeveand the inner screen wire sleeve of the charge housing are connectedaround the upper edge thereof and wherein an annular band of porousabsorbent material is secured around the outer periphery of the lowerend of the charge housing to form a gasket therearound, said gasketbeing removably seatable within the lower seating band when the chargehousing is secured within the bowl cavity.
 4. Tobacco smoking equipmentas set forth in claim 1 wherein the upper and lower seating bands areconstructed as an integral part of the smoking holder bowl.
 5. Tobaccosmoking equipment as set forth in claim 1 wherein air and smoke blendingmeans is provided in the smoking holder and comprises means providing anair inlet aperture provided in the stem section adjacent to the bowlsection, said aperture means being in open communication with the smokechannel passageway, variable valve means movably connected to the stemsection and in communication with the air inlet aperture whereby saidvalve means may be variably opened or closed to allow the desired amountof air to be mixed with the smoke in the smoke channel passageway. 6.Tobacco smoking equipment as set forth in claim 5 wherein the valvemeans comprises a sleeve member having a circular cross-section slidablysurrounding the stem section at the air inlet aperture therein, a secondaperture provided in said sleeve member, said second aperture and theair inlet aperture being traversely aligned whereby the sleeve membermay be moved thereby adjusting the position of the second aperture withrespect to the air inlet aperture for variably opening and closing theair inlet aperture.
 7. Tobacco smoking equipment as set forth in claim 1wherein the charge housing comprising said pair of elongated wire meshscreen panels having a porous absorbent material panel sandwichedtherebetween said screen panels with porous absorbent material panel hasa sleeve shape for receiving a tobacco charge therein.
 8. Tobaccosmoking equipment as set forth in claim 7 wherein the elongated wiremesh screen panels have ends which are arranged in overlappingengagement.
 9. Tobacco smoking equipment as set forth in claim 8 whereinthe external end of the wire mesh screen panels which forms the chargehousing is bonded to prevent unraveling of the wire therein.
 10. Tobaccosmoking equipment as set forth in claim 7 wherein the ends of theelongated wire mesh screen panels are bonded together.